Setting Some Bobcats Loose in a Canyon Near Home

The bobcats in June, hostile and ready to go wild.

I not only got to release some bobcats recently, but I got to pick the place, which felt good. 

There was a certain canyon more or less torched by a forest fire nine years ago. Lots of the conifers are gone, except down along the creek where the fire skipped them, but the Gambel oak has sprouted copiously.

Steep slopes, thick brush, lots of rock outcroppings -- and I had been seeing more rock squirrels, etc. It all seemed like good country for an adaptable mesopredator. 

The local wildlife rehabilitators had raised six orphaned kittens over the winter. Now they were full size and full of hatred for civilization and all its works. As they should be.

A couple were "soft-released" — just open the enclosure at the foothills location and let them go.  Two went elsewhere on the national forest. The local district wildife manager (game warden) met my suggestion for the last two with a "Yeah sure, sounds good."

 

M. and I went to the site along with one of the rehabbers—he was mainly interested in getting photos and a chance for some sightseeing.

I set the two live trips down near the stream. I figured that if the first thing the encountered was the water, they would know where to get a drink-- and maybe the creekside area provide good hunting.

Didn't really need the heavy gauntlets, but I was taking no chances.

 

And there goes bobcat number one. A moment after the shutter snapped, it took off running. As it should.

 

The second one followed half a minute later, and our work was done. 

 

These bobcats are not collared or anything. No one know where they are but themselves. I just hope that the prey base is there and that they are doing all right.

 

As a wildlife-transport volunteer, I am usually bringing birds and animals to one rehabilitation center or another. But setting them loose (when they survive) is even better.